“Trump will be the next president of the United States of America,” I read. I couldn’t believe it.
The headlines were nauseating. I felt sick, confused, and worried about the future of my country. Trump? Really? The same man whose platform centered around bigotry and hateful, divisive rhetoric? The man who called for a blanket ban on Muslims entering the US, assaulted and proudly objectified women, mocked the disabled, labelled Mexicans as “rapists,” disrespected African Americans, and highlighted his ignorance and incompetence every time he opened his mouth?
No. There’s no way. It must be a nightmare that I’ll wake up from soon, right?
Nope. The Americans have exercised their democratic rights, and apparently, they want a misogynistic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, racist, incompetent, and power-hungry White supremacist to lead our country. The results tell me less about Trump and more about the values my peers, my neighbors, and my fellow citizens hold. The thought of such a large population of Americans cherishing such divisive policies was chilling and alienating. I felt as if a sharp needle had just pierced through my heart. As an American-Muslim woman, I’ve never felt so terrified about not only my future, but also the future of my community and my country. Ever.
A few tears dribbled down my cheek as I reflected upon the way Trump’s run for president started as a joke that has quickly evolved into a living nightmare. I then realized that denial was no longer an option. Trump will become the next president of my country, and that’s a fact that I need to accept, for rejecting it would undermine the core democratic values that we cherish as Americans.
Returning back to my faith, a sense of comfort and tranquility overcame me. God has a plan, and although I may not understand it now, only He truly knows what’s best for me and what’s best for our society. I have full faith that God’s plan is better than any of our individual plans, and that puts my heart at ease.
The results of this election have alarmed tens of millions of Americans – especially minority groups -- and I hope we can funnel our energy toward working together to unify our nation and uphold our fundamental values of equality, freedom, and love for all. Feelings of anger and fear are natural results of such an upset, but we need to look forward, roll up our sleeves, and work toward building a better and brighter -- regardless of who sits in the Oval Office. At this time, we need to uplift each other, for we are truly stronger together.
